The Use Of Animals In Medical Research

The Coalition for Medical Progress commissioned MORI to ask British people what they thought about the use of animals in medical research.

The Coalition for Medical Progress commissioned MORI to ask British people what they thought about the use of animals in medical research.

Key Finding from the MORI Surveys

Conditional acceptance of the use of animals in medical research has increased since 1999.

In 1999, 84% of adults in Great Britain were 'Conditional Acceptors' i.e. they could justify the use of animals for certain applications, or providing that certain conditions are met.

In 2002, 90% of adults in Great Britain were 'Conditional Acceptors'.

'Conditional Acceptors' accept the use of animals in research providing at least one of four conditions are met:

  • The experiment must be for medical research purposes
  • The experiment must be for research into life-threatening diseases
  • There is no unnecessary suffering for the animal/s
  • Researchers use non-animal alternatives whenever possible

Technical details

The research was conducted in three phases -- a qualitative phase, followed by the main quantitative phase and then a 'booster survey' in Scotland and Wales. The qualitative stage consisted of four focus groups. Two groups were carried out in the North of England, on 7 March 2002 and two in the South, on 12-13 March 2002.

The two quantitative surveys provide statistically valid responses from a combined representative sample of 1,125 adults aged 15+ in Great Britain: 885 in England, 122 in Scotland and 118 in Wales.

For the main stage, a total of 1,023 interviews were carried out among adults aged 15+, in Great Britain, between 8 - 24 April 2002.

For the booster, a total of 102 interviews were carried out among adults aged 15+, in Scotland and Wales, between 17 - 29 May 2002.

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